Ombudsman to Form Special Team Against 'Garbage Kings' Nationwide

The Office of the Ombudsman will form a special investigative team to look into alleged corruption in garbage collection and waste management contracts nationwide, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said during the Senate Finance Committee’s deliberations on the agency’s proposed 2027 budget. The move followed a discussion on alleged irregularities in local government waste management, with Remulla describing individuals who control garbage-hauling operations as “basura kings.” “May mga character tayo sa society na basura king. The big haulers are basura kings, Your Honor, and they’re here in Manila, in Metro Manila, in Manila, City of Manila, everywhere.” Remulla said the Ombudsman would examine how garbage collection and waste management contracts are handled by local governments, particularly where large amounts of public funds are involved. ‘Basura’ contracts under scrutiny Remulla pointed to the structure of garbage collection as an area that could be vulnerable to corruption, saying waste management involves substantial local government budgets. “Kasi ang budget for basura ay so big that it can blind a lot of people into just making money out of it.” He said the problem is not limited to Metro Manila and confirmed that the planned investigative effort would cover local governments nationwide. Asked whether the Ombudsman would have personnel specifically tasked to identify how local officials and contractors allegedly profit from garbage operations, Remulla said: “We will create a special investigative team for this, Your Honor. We will do it.” The Ombudsman did not provide details during the hearing on the team’s composition, timeline or the specific local government units that would initially be covered. Garbage problem goes beyond collection Remulla also raised concerns over the implementation of the country’s waste-management system, saying the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should have a greater role. He said garbage collection begins at the local government level but that other steps, including waste segregation and proper sanitary landfills, are often not followed. “The tragedy, Your Honor, is that the work of the DENR is never started or finished because the garbage hauling begins with local government and nothing is followed: segregation, proper sanitary landfills, everything becomes upside.” Remulla said garbage is instead brought to contracted disposal sites, creating opportunities for large sums of money to circulate through waste-management contracts. He added that the issue was something he had encountered in politics and described the alleged network of large garbage haulers as existing not only in Metro Manila but across the country. Ombudsman previously urged mayors to check waste contracts Remulla had earlier called on mayors to scrutinize offices under their supervision for possible corruption involving garbage collection and waste management contracts. He also urged the public to report irregularities involving local officials and government offices to the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). The Ombudsman has emphasized that allegations must be investigated and supported by evidence before cases are filed. Its broader anti-corruption campaign has also included intensified field investigations into infrastructure and flood-control projects. — RSJ, GMA News